Fiji has seven legislative drafters, up from four in 2023, Solicitor-General Ropate Green told attendees at the inaugural Pacific Legislative Drafters Steering Committee conference in Nadi. He noted that while the country has 1,116 registered legal practitioners, only seven legislative drafters are currently employed in the Office of the Attorney-General, with two more on maternity and study leave.
Green said that through the Attorney-General’s Office, a substantial amount of legislation has been passed or prepared for reform over the past two years. From 2023 to 2025, Fiji produced 81 Bills, 72 of which have been enacted into law, while nine remain under parliamentary review. In the same period, 74 regulations were drafted, in addition to legal notices and gazette notices. Reviews are also underway on several laws, including the Public Health Act 1935, Police Act 1965, Education Act 1966, and the Online Safety Act 2018.
He stressed that legislative drafting demands technical expertise, creativity and problem-solving to respond to challenges such as safeguarding traditional knowledge, strengthening cybersecurity, combating financial crimes and protecting fisheries resources.
Chief Justice Salesi Temo commended the organisers of the conference, saying it would lay the foundation for broader discussions on regional legislations. He urged participants to consider how the conference’s outcomes can feed into national reform agendas and to view it as the start of a continuing platform for Pacific legislative drafters to collaborate. He added that as custodians of law, they should strive to develop a framework that empowers people and enables wise, fair, and foresighted governance.
Context and added insights
Outside Fiji, there has been consistent emphasis on the shortage of specialist legislative drafters. Reports and discussions in related discussions have highlighted the strain of reviewing and amending a long backlog of laws, with some notes identifying around 40 laws needing review or amendment and only a small pool of senior drafters to tackle the workload. Independent voices have called for increased funding and resources for the Attorney-General’s Office to help modernize Fiji’s legal framework and bring it in line with international standards. These discussions also reference broader concerns about the relatively small number of registered lawyers in Fiji, underscoring the importance of capacity-building and regional collaboration.
Impact and outlook
The numbers presented at the conference—81 Bills with 72 enacted and 9 under review, plus 74 regulations drafted—reflect significant legislative momentum. The ongoing reviews of key Acts indicate a clear push to modernize laws that were drafted in earlier eras and to strengthen frameworks in areas like public health, policing, education, online safety, and digital governance. The emphasis on preserving traditional knowledge while addressing contemporary risks, such as cybersecurity and financial crime, signals a balanced approach to reform.
Commentary and value-added notes
– Capacity gaps remain a challenge. Fiji’s legal-drafting capacity appears stretched, underscoring the need for targeted recruitment, training, and perhaps regional or international collaboration to accelerate reform.
– Regional collaboration can amplify long-term gains. The conference provides a platform to share best practices, harmonize approaches across Pacific jurisdictions, and streamline processes for quicker, more coherent lawmaking.
– Investment in training and resources could yield broader governance benefits. Strengthening the Attorney-General’s Office, expanding the drafting team, and leveraging technology for drafting and review could improve efficiency and the quality of legislation.
The inaugural Pacific Legislative Drafters Steering Committee conference marks a proactive step toward regional cooperation and sustained legal reform in Fiji. While capacity constraints persist, the output so far demonstrates momentum in updating and strengthening the country’s legal framework, with a clear path toward more inclusive and future-ready laws.
Fiji is advancing legislative capacity through regional collaboration and targeted reform, with tangible results in recent Bills and regulations, and a forward-looking agenda to address capacity gaps and modernize its legal system.
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